Responding to Ed Miliband’s speech launching Labour's business maniefesto at Bloomberg, a spokesperson from Class said:

“Labour’s commitment to the protection for workers that Europe gives should be welcomed, as should Ed Miliband’s pledge to change the way our economy works so that it can once again meet people’s need for secure work and decent wages."

"But to truly tackle the scourge of low pay and insecure work and ensure prosperity is shared, the next government must go further and put an end to the austerity that has failed so many by embarking on a programme of public investment and committing to reforming the EU so that it works for everyone and not just the few."

"The next government needs to commit to a major expansion of high-quality apprenticeships and vocational training to tackle the growing skills shortage in the UK and Labour’s pledge to require every firm with a public contract to provide apprenticeships, introduce a new gold standard for apprentices and prioritise technical degrees is a first step in the right direction."

"Ed Miliband is right to highlight how we need to tackle the productivity gap between UK and countries like France and Germany. Significantly, both France and Germany engage union representatives in developing their industrial strategies and in order to tackle our declining productivity rate, the next government must commit to engaging and working more closely with the trade unions."

Notes to Editors:
1. The Centre for Labour and Social Studies (Class) is a new think tank established in 2012 by Unite the Union, GMB and the Institute of Employment Rights to act as a centre for left debate and discussion and has the growing support of a number of trade Unions including ASLEF, CWU, FEU, GFTU, NUT, PCS, PFA, TSSA, UCATT, MU, NUM, BFAWU and UCU. Originating in the labour movement, Class is working with a broad coalition of supporters, academics and experts to develop and advance alternative policies for today. http://classonline.org.uk/about/panel